This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
On Tuesday, April 9, I’ll be hosting another Ask Eli Home Buyer Workshop with my business partner Jean Ropp and local Loan Officer, Jake Ryon, with First Home Mortgage. Food and drinks will be provided!
The workshop is a free and will cover:
- How to use data and strategy to maximize your home purchase
- How to use market trends to your advantage
- The latest on interest rates and mortgage programs/products
- Common mistakes to avoid and some tips for success
Who is it for?
- Any buyer type from first-time buyer to experienced buyers
- Ready to purchase now or planning 18-24 months out
- Home buyers in Northern Virginia, D.C., or the Maryland Suburbs
- You or anybody you know who would benefit
Where and When?
- Tuesday, April 9 from 6-7:30 p.m.
- Arlington Central Library (1015 N Quincy St), Bluemont Room
Registration is now open and space is limited.
Click the graphic below to RSVP. Bring your appetite and your home buying questions! I’d love to see you there. Feel free to email me at [email protected] with any questions about the event.
If you’d like to discuss design trends, buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel.
Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10CA
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Question: How is the Northern Virginia real estate market doing so far in 2024?
Answer: It is common for there to be a sharp shift in market demand when the calendar turns to a new year and it usually happens pretty quickly. Last year, we experienced the most significant market “whiplash” we’ve had in at least a decade between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023.
So far this year, the change isn’t quite as extreme as last year’s (things had slowed down more in Q4 2022 than they did at the end of 2023), but the Q1 market conditions in 2024 are proving to be more aggressive than in 2023 with higher escalations, more homes selling within one week, and more homes selling at or above the asking price than this time last year.
The 2024 Market is Off to an Explosive Start
With interest rates falling at the end of the 2023 and in early 2024, there was a lot of momentum in the local real estate market, and I quickly saw prices moving up 5%-10% on many properties, compared to 2023 pricing. Interest rates have crept back up over the past 4-6 weeks, but momentum has not been lost and I’m still seeing huge demand against tepid listing volume. Even the normally relaxed condo market is seeing competition and price appreciation.
The data in the table below is from the Arlington County and Fairfax County housing market for properties listed for sale in Q4 2023 and in Q1 2024, priced between $300k and $2M, not including new construction:
- The average home that has been listed and sold in Q1 sold for 3.1% over the original asking price, even the average condo is selling for 1.4% over the asking price
- 5% of all homes and 80.3% of detached or townhouse/duplex properties listed and closed in Q1 have gone under contract within seven days
- 82.2% of all homes listed and sold in Q1 have sold for at or above the asking price and 66% have sold for above the asking price
We Really Need More Supply…
I’ve said this more times than I can count, but last year was a really bad year for supply, with a historically low volume of homes listed for sale. I have hope that this year with be better, but in Northern Virginia we saw a 13.5% year-over-year drop in January listing volume… not a good start. The low listing volume has a lot to do with the surge in pricing and competition so far in Q1, despite interest rates remaining high.
Northern Virginia has experienced 31 straight months of year-over-year declines in listing volume! February data is out next month.
If you’d like to discuss design trends, buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel.
Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10CA
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Question: Is it a good idea to install a pool in my yard or buy a home with a pool?
Answer: For years, selling a home with a pool was much more difficult than selling one without one, but when COVID hit, those numbers shifted as demand for homes with pools increased. Even with COVID restrictions behind us, it seems there is still much stronger demand for pools in Northern Virginia than there was pre-pandemic.
With that said, there are still many buyers who will not consider a home with a pool or consider it a significant negative factor so many sellers will still experience a negative effect on resale with a full size pool in their back yard. One of the top reasons buyers find pools to be a negative is because they usually take up a huge percentage of the yard space for most homes in Northern Virginia.
Plunge Pools Are a Great Option
Plunge pools, aka cocktail pools, are becoming very popular locally because they take up less space, cost less, and still provide a lot of the functional benefit people want from a full size pool. From a resale standpoint, in my opinion, a nice plunge pool will have a much higher return on investment than a full size pool because it’s easier to integrate into the landscaping, doesn’t dominate so much of the lawn, costs less to maintain, and costs less to install. You will still attract most of the buyers willing to pay a premium for a pool but will also drive away fewer buyers who don’t value a pool or value lawn space more than a pool.
I connected with Arlington-based landscape architect/designer, Rob Groff of Groff Landscape Design, to discuss the recent trend he’s seeing towards plunge pools. Rob and his team are excellent resources for all pool and all other landscape/outdoor living projects including kitchens, patios, and plantings.
According to Local Landscape Designer, Rob Groff…
Although traditional swimming pools are still in demand, many Northern Virginia homeowners have shifted their mind set. For some, this is out of necessity due to a smaller property size or municipal related restrictions that won’t allow for a larger pool. For others, a smaller plunge pool is appealing as many consumers want a reduced footprint, less maintenance, and less energy consumption.
We are finding that many homeowners are opting for a smaller pool size because it allows them to have most of what they want out of a pool while still maximizing other elements of their property in the form of play space for children, patio entertaining and gardening.
I was initially skeptical of plunge pools until my wife and I realized we almost never use the deep end of our pool. We typically find ourselves and our guests huddled near the stairs with most of the pool empty. It turns out, plunge pools are perfect for those longing to sip a cocktail while soaking on a pool ledge or to cannonball in after a long day. They are too small for swimming laps, but they can be outfitted with an artificial current that provides resistance for swimming in place.
Plunge pools typically start at a dimension of 6’x10’ and can reach up to 9’x21’. The most popular plunge pools are made of concrete in a controlled factory environment. They are then delivered to the property and installed by crane. Much of the rest of the installation is very similar to a traditional swimming pool. The installation will likely take three weeks compared to twelve or more weeks for traditional Gunite or Shot Crete swimming pools. Plunge pools are also available in fiberglass which may be a better fit for some homeowners with exceptionally poor access where a crane may not be able to reach as easily.
When it comes to cost, plunge pools are not inexpensive, but they are significantly less expensive than a traditional swimming pool. You save on paying for the multitude of subcontractors needed to install a traditional swimming pool, but you can expect to pay extra shipping and crane costs for a plunge pool.
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Question: What home design trends are you seeing in 2024?
Answer: For this week’s article on home design trends, my partner Jean Ropp takes the reigns to review the latest in colors, patterns, materials, and more home design trends. Take it away Jean…
One of the things I love most about being in the real estate business is following home design styles! To me, there is nothing quite like transforming spaces in your home to become aesthetically pleasing, functional and full of your personality. Below we have outlined the home design trends we expect to see this year. Our team reviews dozens of articles, blogs, and write-ups so we know what to expect and we are already seeing these trends in the marketplace. What do you think, do you like these looks?!
Here’s a sharable link to the full presentation of design trends.
Pastels are in! Colors of the year are…
Dynamic Hoods
Range hood vent covers are no longer an afterthought, but a prominent focus in kitchen design. They are bold and eye-catching with unique textures such as plaster or wood fluting. Every kitchen needs a focal point, and the range hoods are reclaiming their position in the kitchen as the centerpiece.
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Question: How did Arlington’s condo market perform in 2023?
Answer: 2023 was a tough year for condo demand because interest rates for much of the year pushed monthly payments well above the cost of renting a comparable apartment. However, like the single-family market last year, listing volume was so low that it kept prices stable and condo sales moderately competitive despite lower demand. How low was listing volume? We saw about 30% fewer condos listed for sale in 2023 than in 2022 and more than 40% fewer listings last year compared to 2021.
The data below looks at Arlington’s condo market, specifically multi-family condos, last year and the trends over the past five years. Most real estate data sets look at numbers based on the year a home sold/settled, but I prefer to look at data based on when a home went under contract because it gives a more accurate reflection of what was happening in the marketplace at the time the deal was agreed to. For example, many new builds go under contract months to a year or more before they close. I also use “Net Sold” for prices, the sold price less any seller credits, for a more accurate representation of the price paid/received.
Condo Market Steady, Prices Flat
After an up and down few years from 2019-2021 (up from Amazon HQ2 announcement, down from COVID), the Arlington condo market has returned to its natural form — slow and steady. Depending on how you slice the data, the condo market is either up or down slightly in 2023 compared to 2022 so it’s fair to say that condo prices were mostly flat in Arlington last year.
- The average price of a condo in Arlington fell by .6% in 2023, while the average $/SqFt fell .8%, and the median price of a condo increased .5%
- If you remove new construction sales from the data, the average price of a condo increased 2.9% in 2023, but if you drill down into price change by condo size, the average one-bedroom condo dropped .1% and the average two-bedroom condo increased .5%
- Over the past five years, the average condo price is up 6.3% but if you remove new construction from that data, the average condo has gained just 3.9% since 2019
- Competition in the condo market has fallen sharply since the 2019 Amazon HQ2 surge when 67% of condos sold in ten days or less and the average condo sold for full ask. In 2023, just under half of the condos listed for sale were sold in ten days or less and the average condo sold for 1.4% less than its original asking price.
- This was the first time in 5+ years with more one-bedroom condo sales than two-bedroom sales
- The most expensive zip code to buy a condo by average price and average $/SqFt is 22209 (Rosslyn area) largely due to being home to some of the region’s most expensive condo buildings including the newly built Pierce condos, Turnberry Tower, and Waterview
- If you remove new construction sales from the data, the zip codes with the strongest five-year average price increase are 22206 (6.7%) and 22202 (6.6%)
Looking Ahead, Upward Price Pressure in 2024
There are strong signs of momentum building in the condo market with a sharp increase in the number of condos sold within ten days on market in 2023 compared to the previous two years, as well as a material decrease in the average amount buyers are negotiating off the original asking price. Combine that with falling inventory levels (charted below), now well below the 10yr historical average, and falling interest rates, I believe we could see some real appreciation in the condo market in 2024; quite possibly in the 3-5% range if rates remain on a downward trajectory.
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Question: How did the Arlington single-family detached housing market perform in 2023?
Answer: 2023 was a great year for Econ101 lessons and showed just how true the pricing relationship is with supply and demand. Despite most buyers not wanting anything to do with buying a home given high interest rates and limited choices, home prices experienced modest gains due to a significant drop in homes being listed for sale. There were about 18% fewer single-family homes (SFH) listed for sale in Arlington in 2023 compared to 2022 and roughly 40% fewer single-family homes listed for sale compared to 2021, which led to another strong and competitive year for the Arlington single-family housing market in 2023.
The data below looks at Arlington’s single-family detached home market last year and trends over the past five years. Most real estate data sets look at numbers based on the year a home sold/settled, but I prefer to look at data based on when a home went under contract because it gives a more accurate reflection of what was happening in the market place at the time the deal was agreed to. For example, many new builds go under contract months to a year or more before they close. I also use “Net Sold” for prices, the sold price less any seller credits, for a more accurate representation of the price paid/received.
Another Year of Strong Growth for Arlington SFH
It was only 2018 when the average SFH in Arlington cracked the $1M mark and after the Amazon HQ2 announcement, the COVID run-up, and overall strong economic conditions the average SFH in Arlington has surpassed $1.35M. Competition for a home in Arlington remains incredibly high and early signs in the 2024 market show even more upward pressure in the housing market.
- The average and median price of a SFH in Arlington increased 3.4% and 5.9%, respectively, in 2023, and increased 23.1% and 28.2%, respectively, over the past five years
- The average buyer paid .6% less than the original asking price of a home. If you purchased a home within the first ten days of it being listed for sale, you paid an average of 2.7% over the original asking price, 60% of homes sold within ten days on market.
- A remarkable 42% of homes sold for above the original asking price, which is consistent with what we’ve seen since 2020. 56% of homes sold for at or above the original asking price.
- If you remove new construction homes from the data set, the average price for a SFH in Arlington falls by about $106,000 to just under $1.25M.
- For the first time in years, the percentage of sales below $800k and above $2M were relatively unchanged and the most common price range for an Arlington SFH is $800k-$1.2M
- Finding a SFH in Arlington for $800k or less is rare, with just 11% of homes selling in that range (same as 2022) and quite a few of those sales are going to builders/investors for redevelopment
22203 Gets Hot, 22201 Extends Lead
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Question: How many different real estate agents are doing business in Arlington?
Answer: There were 2,239 real estate transactions in Arlington last year, totaling $1.91B in sales volume, well below 2022’s totals of 2,795 transactions and $2.26B in volume.
There were 2,136 licensed real estate agents involved in at least one sale in Arlington in 2023, compared to 2,491 agents in 2022. Each transaction usually includes two real estate agents — one representing the buyer and another representing the seller.
I looked over the 2023 Arlington transaction data and pulled out some interesting highlights below. I removed a few agents whose business is all or mostly in-house sales (for a builder or building). Of note, there are some real estate teams that enter all sales under one agent’s name, so in these cases, individual numbers represent the production of many agents rolled under one agent’s name, but I don’t have transparency into that data to sparse it.
Here’s a link to an article I wrote in 2019 explaining how different agents/teams are structured.
- 61% of agents who did business last year in Arlington had just one sale in Arlington (many of those had more sales outside of Arlington) and accounted for 26% of the total sales volume
- 4% (29) of agents handled 10+ transactions in Arlington
- 2% (5) of agents handled 20+ transactions in Arlington
- 1,425 different agents represented buyers, 31 (1.5%) represented 5+ buyers
- 1,191 different agents represented sellers, 57 (2.7%) represented 5+ sellers
- 14 (.6%) agents handled 5+ buyer transactions and 5+ seller transactions
- The top 10% producing agents in Arlington accounted for 44% of sales volume
- There has been a major shift at the top of the charts this year. For many years, Keri Shull and her team dominated the top spots in total transactions and volume by a huge margin (tens of millions last year and $100M+ in 2021). Congratulations to Betsy Twigg (volume) and Kay Houghton (transactions) on claiming top stops in total business in Arlington for 2023.
- The highest average sale price with at least three transactions in Arlington is Steve Watson with an average price over $2.8M across 11 listings
Most studies suggest that consumers are less concerned with measures like sales volume and more focused on the strength of communication and trustworthiness of the agent they’re working with, but market expertise and experience are still important considerations.
Many people see the low barrier to entry for real estate licensing, and the resulting high volume of agents, as a negative, but it also means that you have a lot of choices as a consumer and, with some effort, can make sure that you’re working with somebody who provides the type of service you’re looking for and the experience to match.
If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel.
Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10CA
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Question: How did the D.C. area housing market perform in 2023?
Answer: I will publish my annual Arlington housing market review in the next 2-3 weeks, but in the meantime I thought it would be helpful to share a higher level view of how our regional D.C. area housing market performed in 2023 and what it looked like entering 2024.
Home Sale Volume Crashed
The most significant market trend was the steep drop in total homes sold in 2023, with total sales in the Greater D.C. Metro about 25% lower than the historical average and more than 40% below 2022 sales volume. The drop is housing units sold was not the result of lower demand, in fact, demand remained quite strong despite interest rates spending most of the year at 7-8%+.
The decrease was driven by the lack of supply, with very few homes hitting the market for sale, primarily due to homeowners not wanting to give up their low mortgage rates. The second chart highlights the extent of the supply problem, with nearly two straight years of mostly double-digit year-over-year decreases in monthly new listing volume. The only positive year-over-year reading in the past two years was a .4% increase in new listings in February 2022.
Prices Increased at a Lower Pace
Normally with supply so low one would expect to see prices increase sharply, but high interest rates made most buyers reluctant to overpay and kept price appreciation modest at 2.5% on the year, well below the historical average of 4.3%. Appreciation in the Greater D.C. Metro market came in just under the national average of 2.9%.
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Question: Where do you expect interest rates to go in 2024?
Answer: The thing about interest rate forecasts is that they’re almost always wrong, so keep that in mind as you digest the predictions in this article or anywhere you hear/read them.
For the most part, buyers have adjusted to interest rates being about double what they were two years ago. Few remaining buyers in the market were active when rates were that low so rates in the 6-8% range are all most current buyers are used to seeing. Thus when rates dropped about 1-1.5% towards the end of 2023, it created strong momentum in the market and we’re seeing that early this year with loan applications up and a high volume of showings and competing offers.
What is a “Normal” Mortgage Rate?
The first thing to understand about mortgage interest rates is that they are market-driven and forecasting comes with the same amount of unpredictability as any other economic/market-based forecasting (GDP, Unemployment, Stocks, etc). Take predictions/forecasts with a grain of salt.
The other truth that is best illustrated by the chart below, which shows the average 30yr fixed mortgage rate since 1971, is that there really is no established “normal” interest rate that we can point to and say “this is what you can expect when markets stabilize. So, use caution when relying on assumptions about future rates (e.g. for a refi).
Forecasting Future Rates
Most major forecasting organizations including Mortgage Bankers Association, Freddie Mac, and National Association of Realtors (NAR) believe rates will steadily decrease through 2024 and that trend will continue into 2025 (although I wrote the same exact thing last year and rates trended up for most of the year).
The National Association of Realtors expects the average 30yr fixed rate will average 6.3% in 2024
Mortgage Bankers Association expects rates to fall faster than Fannie Mae and NAR, with average 30yr fixed rates hitting 6.1% by the end of the year and mid 5s by the second half of 2025.
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
It’s always fun taking a look back at the most expensive homes sold in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region each year (see 2022, 2021, and 2020) so let’s jump right into some amazing real estate that changed hands in 2023 (Note: this includes what is entered into the MLS, it’s certainly possible (likely) that expensive homes have traded hands privately outside of the MLS).
2023 was a slow year in real estate and the did not spare the ultra-high-end market with a disappointing year for mega sales compared to previous years. The most expensive home sold in 2023 was a $17.3M home owned by the Royal Swedish Government and home to the Swedish Ambassador. The home itself leaves something to be desired for the “food porn” fans, but the 6.7 acres in American University Park is enviable.
Top 5 Most Expensive Sales in Arlington
Despite its high average cost, Arlington doesn’t have much of an ultra-high-end market like many of its neighboring jurisdictions with just three sales over $4M, topping out at $4.25M for a beautiful new build on nearly ½ acre by Joy Custom Homes in the Dover Crystal neighborhood.
Top 5 Most Expensive Sales in Virginia
McLean’s prestigious Langley Farms neighbor claims the top two sales in Virginia this year, with sales of $13.25M and $10.8M in 2023. The top sale earns the new homeowner a home spanning nearly 14,000 SqFt on just under two acres of land.
This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!
Happy new year everybody! I hope each of you had a restful and meaningful holiday season.
A couple weeks ago, our Eli Residential Group team got together for a holiday celebration and did a food and drink tour of Arlington’s newly opened Water Park in Crystal City/National Landing. It’s a recently opened indoor/outdoor food hall(ish) in a park setting with eleven different restaurants that’ll offer something for every taste and appetite.
Each of us picked one place from the eleven on-site options to try out and we loved each stop. The park/food hall is designed to be mostly outdoors with just a couple of restaurants offering indoor seating, but they had heaters all over to make it comfortable even with chilly weather. Once spring comes this will be a fantastic place to eat, drink, and hang out. They will also host regularly scheduled live music and community events during warmer months.
I highly recommend a visit to the Water Park for any locals or visitors, and it also makes for a great destination for somebody with a long layover at Regan National Airport.
Stop #1 (selected by Jean Ropp): Water Bar
I selected Water Bar for the location, the interior aesthetic, and the seafood!
Water Bar centrally located in the park, above the main waterfall feature, and overlooks the park. It is one of the two restaurant options with indoor seating. The vibe inside is trendy, modern and fun, and it will be even more inviting when the water feature is turned on in the warmer months.
We ordered the crab cakes, broiled oysters, prosciutto pretzel rods and the crab melt panini. I am a sucker for good seafood and our selections were delicious.
Our server/bartender was fantastic, she whipped up a delightful mocktail for me (as I am currently 8 months pregnant!) and some fun cocktails for the rest of the group.
Fun fact: the entire park permits alcohol to be consumed between restaurants, it feels like quite a treat to carry your beverage from one spot to the next!
Stop #2 (selected by Eli Tucker): Queen Mother’s
I’ve been looking forward to my next visit to Queen Mother’s for their legendary fried chicken sandwiches since I first tried one two years ago.
I was heartbroken when they announced their moved off Columbia Pike just before I moved within walking distance of their former location (although, maybe a good thing for my health).
We ordered the Classic, Spicy Buffalo, and Elijah Spicy sandwiches plus sides of duck fat fries and tenders.
Every bite is heavenly, and I urge anybody who hasn’t visited Queen Mother’s to do so ASAP.
Stop #3 (selected by Brian Wyatt): Crush Pizza + Wine
Pizza and wine — what’s not to like?
I’m always searching for good pizza, and Crush Pizza + Wine delivered, offering tempting selections of NY Style pizzas.
All the pie descriptions looked great, so we decided to order half-n-half. A classic cheese pizza on one half, and a Greek pizza (crushed tomato sauce, mozzarella, salami, feta, kalamata olives, pepperoncini, red onion) on the other. Both were excellent!
Thin, crispy crust with cheesy goodness on top. And our bottle of Italian red hit the spot too!
We ordered a large pie, but they also serve by the slice if you want to sample more of their menu.
The staff were welcoming, fun, and friendly. I can’t wait to go back!
Stop #4 (selected by Val Connolly): Tiki Thai
I picked Tiki Thai because I love the spicy and tangy thai flavors and I had my heart set on the Drunken Khao Soi (drunken noodles).
By the time we made it to Tiki Thai, we had already tried so many great dishes at the other restaurants so decided to order dessert and I’m so glad we did!
We shared the fresh mango and sticky rice and the Thai Churros. The mango and sticky rice had the perfect level of sweetness and the rice was infused with coconut so it tasted like a tropical treat.
The churros were fluffy and light, and came with two dipping sauces: nutella and condensed milk. The churros with condensed milk were my absolute favorite! Both desserts were delicious and didn’t feel too heavy so that left some room for a cold Singha beer!
Stop #5 (selected by Tonya Nelson): Brij Coffee
Initially I selected this location, because I love coffee, however, once I went to their website I learned more about how they are supporting our community, and felt they were the type of local business we love to support.
Here’s what I read:
True to our name, Brij was envisioned as a haven, connector, and support network by our founder Skyler Kelley, who reinvests a portion of earnings in the community through nonprofits that help our neighbors in need.
Drawing on her lived experience as an unhoused single mother, Skyler founded Brij with a vision to eradicate homelessness and bridge gaps among the District’s richly diverse community.
Happy new year from Brian, Tonya, Jean, Val, and Eli!
If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel.
Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10CA